5 Steps To Becoming A World Class Landscape Photographer
Landscape photography is a specialized branch of photography that captures landscapes, often with a wide angle lens. Taking pictures of breathtaking scenery is a popular pastime for photographers, but there is a considerable difference between pro work and amateur prints. In order to take landscape photos like a pro, you have to know how these landscape masters produce the photos that they do.
You need to understand why their photos look so incredible!
In order to do this, you need to work your way through a five step process – one that every great landscape photographer goes through when they are capturing images. If you follow these steps, your technique will improve and so will your landscape photos. Like all things in photography your technique depends on whether you’re using a manual or digital camera.
This article will be focusing on digital landscape photography.
Step 1: Finding The Right Equipment
After you’ve bought your digital camera there are a few other items that you have to get if you plan on creating great landscape shots. The key to capturing beautiful landscapes is planning. If you don’t plan for your trip, you won’t have the tools you need to produce photos that are worth looking at. Remember that anyone can take wide angle photos, but only a few photographers become well known because them.
Once you have the basic equipment you need to prepare for the image.
Step 2: Finding The Right Location
Pros spend weeks searching for the right locations to visit, so that they can snap some never-before-seen images. Landscape photography is not about stumbling into a scenic area and then doing some impromptu shots while you’re there. It requires travel, and an endless search for the perfect scene.
If you already have a location in mind then it’s time to think about other factors that will affect your images. If you’re traveling somewhere far, then make sure you’re going there in the right season. Research the location and come up with the best areas you can visit on your trip. Once you arrive, it’s a good idea to stay there for a few days, taking note of the lighting in the morning, afternoon, early evening and at night.
A well planned trip will take the location, climate and time of day into account.
Step 3: Planning and Positioning Your Shot
Photographers spend hours putting together the perfect landscape image. You need to find the right vantage point and from there, compose your image before photographing it. Many of the best landscape photos have a prominent foreground object that draws the viewer’s eye when they see the final image. It’s also a great rule if you’re trying to capture a more 3D looking picture.
Decide whether your subject is best photographed horizontally, or if a vertical shot would better highlight the section of the landscape you’re trying to capture. High vantage points are a nice learning curve for beginners and will make your panoramic shots look amazing. Don’t forget that landscape photography is not meant to be cluttered or busy, and as a rule you should exclude features that distract your viewer from the rest of the scenery.
Find the best vantage point, pick a foreground subject and keep it simple.
Step 4: Taking the Photo
Now that you’ve planned your photo you’re ready to take it. Check that it complies with the rule of thirds so that you get the most out of framing your image. If there are any contrasting diagonal lines make sure that they work together, and fit well in the photo. If they don’t, moving your camera slightly can work wonders for balancing your scene.
Step 5: Editing Your Photo
There’s a huge trend for manipulating landscape photos to further highlight the features you’ve captured in your image. Being able to edit your digital photos means that you are in complete control of the end result. Whether you use Photoshop, Coral Paint Shop or another software program to process your photos, this is your opportunity to bring out the best in your images.
Tweak your light sources, enhance the color or crop the image for a better final product. There are so many things you can do with your landscape in a photo manipulation program that you’ll find yourself playing around with your images for hours. Sometimes all a photo needs is a slight improvement, but you’ll have to be the judge of that.
Create different looks using the same digital image in your editing program.
If you stick to these pro tips your talent for landscape photography will improve as you become more familiar with the subject matter. Eventually you’ll be able to find and capture the breathtaking landscapes that the pros do, and produce some incredible images of your own. If you take the time to travel, and properly plan your landscape pictures before shooting them, then perhaps one day photography students all over the world will study your photos for tips, techniques and inspiration.
What do you think? If this tutorial was helpful, please share your comments below and tell us how you feel! Also, if you have any additional tips, feel free to let us know :-)
You need to understand why their photos look so incredible!
In order to do this, you need to work your way through a five step process – one that every great landscape photographer goes through when they are capturing images. If you follow these steps, your technique will improve and so will your landscape photos. Like all things in photography your technique depends on whether you’re using a manual or digital camera.
This article will be focusing on digital landscape photography.
Step 1: Finding The Right Equipment
After you’ve bought your digital camera there are a few other items that you have to get if you plan on creating great landscape shots. The key to capturing beautiful landscapes is planning. If you don’t plan for your trip, you won’t have the tools you need to produce photos that are worth looking at. Remember that anyone can take wide angle photos, but only a few photographers become well known because them.
- Wide Angle Lens – Your wide angle lens is vital to great landscape photography. It’ll help createthat depth of focus you need to highlight your scenery and give it a more realistic feel. Make sure that its good quality, and that it’s easy to handle for long distance trips. A focal length of 35mm is sufficient for most landscapes.
- Tripod – The best landscape photographers rely on their tripods to keep the camera still while capturing the image. This bit of equipment ensures that your images are clear, especially if there is a longer exposure time than usual. They are also important when positioning your shot, and will keep the camera level when you’re out on uneven terrain.
- Polarizing Filter – You’ll never see a professional landscape photographer without their polarizing filter. It gives you greater control over the image you are trying to capture, and can produce different effects according to your preference and subject matter. Water for example, becomes more translucent when seen through a polarized filter.
Once you have the basic equipment you need to prepare for the image.
Step 2: Finding The Right Location
Pros spend weeks searching for the right locations to visit, so that they can snap some never-before-seen images. Landscape photography is not about stumbling into a scenic area and then doing some impromptu shots while you’re there. It requires travel, and an endless search for the perfect scene.
If you already have a location in mind then it’s time to think about other factors that will affect your images. If you’re traveling somewhere far, then make sure you’re going there in the right season. Research the location and come up with the best areas you can visit on your trip. Once you arrive, it’s a good idea to stay there for a few days, taking note of the lighting in the morning, afternoon, early evening and at night.
A well planned trip will take the location, climate and time of day into account.
Step 3: Planning and Positioning Your Shot
Photographers spend hours putting together the perfect landscape image. You need to find the right vantage point and from there, compose your image before photographing it. Many of the best landscape photos have a prominent foreground object that draws the viewer’s eye when they see the final image. It’s also a great rule if you’re trying to capture a more 3D looking picture.
Decide whether your subject is best photographed horizontally, or if a vertical shot would better highlight the section of the landscape you’re trying to capture. High vantage points are a nice learning curve for beginners and will make your panoramic shots look amazing. Don’t forget that landscape photography is not meant to be cluttered or busy, and as a rule you should exclude features that distract your viewer from the rest of the scenery.
Find the best vantage point, pick a foreground subject and keep it simple.
Step 4: Taking the Photo
Now that you’ve planned your photo you’re ready to take it. Check that it complies with the rule of thirds so that you get the most out of framing your image. If there are any contrasting diagonal lines make sure that they work together, and fit well in the photo. If they don’t, moving your camera slightly can work wonders for balancing your scene.
Step 5: Editing Your Photo
There’s a huge trend for manipulating landscape photos to further highlight the features you’ve captured in your image. Being able to edit your digital photos means that you are in complete control of the end result. Whether you use Photoshop, Coral Paint Shop or another software program to process your photos, this is your opportunity to bring out the best in your images.
Tweak your light sources, enhance the color or crop the image for a better final product. There are so many things you can do with your landscape in a photo manipulation program that you’ll find yourself playing around with your images for hours. Sometimes all a photo needs is a slight improvement, but you’ll have to be the judge of that.
Create different looks using the same digital image in your editing program.
If you stick to these pro tips your talent for landscape photography will improve as you become more familiar with the subject matter. Eventually you’ll be able to find and capture the breathtaking landscapes that the pros do, and produce some incredible images of your own. If you take the time to travel, and properly plan your landscape pictures before shooting them, then perhaps one day photography students all over the world will study your photos for tips, techniques and inspiration.
What do you think? If this tutorial was helpful, please share your comments below and tell us how you feel! Also, if you have any additional tips, feel free to let us know :-)
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by Jeff Thomas
by Jeff Thomas
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